Dust is so light that it does not take long to settle on every surface, showing its quiet aggressiveness to the worker’s health and to the equipment.
But what exactly is dust? It consists of solid particles dispersed in the air or other gases, produced by mechanical, chemical-physical, or natural processes. With particle sizes below 500 µm, dust may originate from abrasion, breakage, condensation, or drying. Its mass and size determine whether it remains suspended or settles by gravity.
Understanding these characteristics is essential in selecting the right dust control and filtration system, ensuring operational efficiency, worker safety, and process continuity.
Dust Properties Impact Filter Selection in Bulk Material Handling
The properties of the dust determine which dust control system to use. Here are the main parameters and the corresponding solutions in Tama Aernova systems:
Particle size
Fine dust tends to penetrate the pores of the filter. In such cases, Kompac Air vertical cartridge filters or Modul Air horizontal cartridge filters designed to ensure high efficiency even with extremely fine particulate matter.Coarser dust, on the other hand, forms a surface cake that is easier to detach. For these scenarios, the Pulco Air baghouse filter with high-permeability fabrics is ideal.
Hygroscopicity (tendency to absorb moisture)
Dusts like flour or sugar tend to clump and form crusts. In these situations, the Pulco Air baghouse filter with hydrophobic fabrics are used. When condensation is a concern, the Baghouse Pulco Air HT insulated version helps reduce temperature drops that cause humidity-related issues. For high humidity or sticky dusts, the most reliable choice is the wet filter Idromix, a system that uses water as the separation medium.
Abrasiveness (the dust’s cutting or grinding effect)
Highly abrasive particles, such as metal or cement dust, can cause wear to the filter. To protect the system and ensure long-term efficiency, it is important to install extraction and filtration systems, specifically designed for such demanding conditions, such as the Pulco Air baghouse filter. When there is fine abrasive dust, the vertical cartridge Kompac Air with anti-abrasive protection is suitable.
Conductivity (risk of electrostatic charge build-up)
Metallic and plastic dusts can accumulate dangerous electrostatic charges. In such environments, an antistatic filter media and proper grounding systems are suggested. ATEX/NFPA-certified solutions are available across the baghouse Pulco Air, vertical cartridges Kompac Air, and the horizontal cartridge Modul Air product ranges.
The importance of the cleaning system
Choosing the right dust control system does not stop at the filter media. The cleaning method is just as important because efficiency must be maintained over time.
At Tama Aernova, we use two main technologies, each suited to specific types of dust:
Pulse-jet cleaning with compressed air
This is a widely adopted and reliable solution used in our Pulco Air baghouse filter, as well as in the Kompac Air and Modul Air cartridge filters. High-speed jets of compressed air clean the filter media from the inside out, removing built-up dust and restoring performance. The Multi Jet system available on Kompac Air ensures even more effective cartridge regeneration, extending service life and reducing low-pressure drop over time.
Wet filtration systems
When dust is hygroscopic, sticky, or potentially explosive, water becomes the safest medium for separation. Idromix wet scrubbers are designed for these critical applications, where dry filtration is either ineffective or unsafe, especially in the presence of sparks or volatile compounds.
Each dust has a unique identity, whether fine, sticky, abrasive, or electrostatically charged. That is why there is no universal solution.
The right system is always a custom combination of:
- Filter type
- Filter material
- Surface treatments
- Cleaning technology
At Tama Aernova, every system starts with a careful analysis of the dust.
We do not offer standard answers. We design targeted solutions.
Want to find out which system is right for your process?
Contact us: sales.web@tamaaernova.com
